Our microwave stopped working last night, but when we got an extension cord and plugged it into another outlet it worked. Assuming the outlet was bad, we replaced it with a new one. Microwave still doesn't work in that outlet. Any reason there might now be power to the outlet? We have turned the breaker on and off several times.
2007-10-30 12:38:52 · 16 answers · asked by misa1979 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
Look for a tripped GFCI. Trouble shoot the circuit with a volt meter. Or call an electrician. Many of the other answers are silly. Be careful about electrical advise from untrained and unqualified people.
2007-10-31 17:30:09 · answer #1 · answered by John himself 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Assuming that all the outlets where the microwave plugs into are either A) on breakers or B) on fuses see the following:
A) if that socket is on a breaker, then find out what other sockets/items are also on that same circuit. You could be using too much on one circuit with the addition of the microwave, the breaker trips out and nothing on the circuit will work until the breaker is reset. Move some things to other circuits
B) If the socket is on a fuse, then same problem except you would have to replace a fuse. If the circuit is set on a 15 amp fuse, try a 20 amp fuse (but no more than 20! else you might start a fire) and see if this solves the problem. That or lighten the load on that circuit by moving other items onto different circuits/sockets.
Could also be the socket isn't grounded properly. But that's something you would have to determine for yourself...
Cheers!
2007-10-30 12:48:38 · answer #2 · answered by Mr Unknowable 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Common problem. Sounds like a lost neutral wire. Use a plug tester and follow close outlets back to the electrical panel if the neutral is not lost inside the outlet box. This way you should find out where the neutral splice is open or bad. Easiest and cheapest way to test, a plug tester. That lights up to tell if the outlet is wired right, and if it is wired wrong. No lights means no power.
2016-04-11 03:57:09 · answer #3 · answered by Heather 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Purchase a small voltage meter, (battery operated) and when you insert the ends into your sockets you can tell if there is power going to them. The little device comes in handy and you'll be able to use it again in the future.
If you have been running too many items on that line ( like using 5 socket, power strips hooked into one outlet), it is possible, you fried the wire inside the wall.
The cord for the Microwave shouldn't be warm when in use.
Using power strips and extension cords are a major source of electrical fires!
2007-10-30 13:03:45 · answer #4 · answered by kriend 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Bad circuit breaker. Broken wire going to the outlet. Call an electrician.
2007-10-30 12:43:41 · answer #5 · answered by oklatom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the kitchen most likely cause is the outlet is fed from another outlet that is /should be GFCI , if so push the reset button on GFCI to restore power. If the other outlets all work, you probably have a bad connection in a junction box feeding that outlet.
2007-10-31 04:48:17 · answer #6 · answered by Ed W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Based on my experience: you have a broken connection in the line somewhere, and it is most likely in side another outlet or switchbox somewhere along the line. Find out which outlets are covered by that breaker and look at the connections in each of those outlet and switch boxes. You'll probably find a loose wire nut or broken wire in one of the boxes.
If everything is OK in each box, then you have a broken wire inside the walls (which is rare).
.
2007-10-30 12:45:02 · answer #7 · answered by tlbs101 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
this will be a tricky solution if you don't know what you are doing but often outlets are connected together, based on the info you gave it sounds to me like there is a short in one of your wires, check all the other outlets in room for loose wires, most rooms will be wired together and if one connection goes bad the outlet wont work. I can fix this problem for you for cheap I have a site set up to show off my work at www.thehelmrichgroup.com take a look and call me
273.9476
2007-10-30 13:06:30 · answer #8 · answered by Stephen H 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Microwave works, so that's not the problem.
There are three other possibilities:
* The breaker has failed
* Your wiring has failed
* The new outlet, if of the GFI type, needs to
be 'reset` for it to work. - Push the button.
For the first two, you would be best advised to
call an electrician.
2007-10-30 13:00:14 · answer #9 · answered by Irv S 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As the first response says most likely is that the cable connections are mixed up. Ensure that this is correct first.
Is the socket/outlet that does work on the same circuit as the faulty one? ie does the same circuit breaker switch both sockets/outlets off
2007-10-30 12:54:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋